vacumm forming my own bodys

[t3chy0888]

well im purchased a new body for my pede and the things are just so flimsy so i think i may vacumm form my own using 1-2mm hip sheets will let ya know how it goes. The pins that hold the bodys on keep ripping through the rear bed of my truck. Yes i have a vacumm form machine allready no idea why but its in the warehouse. not mine but am able to use whenever i want.

[Slaughter33]

Good luck with that thickness. I would assume there is a reason proline doesn't use a thicker lexan. Maybe if you make a body with less detail it would work. You can prevent some body damage by using drywall tape, shoe goo and washers under the holes.

[mark c]

+1. You can make stronger bodies if you want but you're just moving the weak spot. Stock up on rear body mounts now. Or go aluminum and stock up on chassis. I destroy bodies within 2 to 4 months myself but I enjoy painting them up. I'm not that picky though.
IMHO if there was money to be made in it someone would have done it by now.
But if you have access to the machine more power to you to try it out man. If nothing else you could just duplicate 6 to 8 bodies for what we pay fo one and let them get hammered on.
Keep us posted ok?

[buzzedredneck]

wow great idea,,,, Ebay baby,,, & pm me too lol

[Dknuckles]

Make sure to get lots of new pics and video. Always interested in seeing what others can do. Sometimes we do things on our own because we can even though it may cost a bit more. It's about satisfaction. Hope to see more on this thread...

[t3chy0888]

well after some thought and some input from you guys about using a thicker plastic and the damage that could do ive decided to aslos try and rig a new mounting for the thicker bodys so all the stress isnt on the 4 post will update with a sketch of what my idea is and see what you all think. and only gonna use 1mm hips to save the weight

[Koda Dank]

I met a guy that does lexan molds and he told me that he can do almost anything. He also told me that lexan has a stronger tensile strength plexi glass. I thought about getting custom stuff made and selling them on ebay. I want something to rival the t-bone servo guard that is cheaper and just as strong if not stronger. I wanted to get some bodies made but thought of a problem, getting clay molds made for the vacuum press.

[Smittyz]

I have recently done this successfully (sort of). First I used a new/uncut body and filled it with Plaster of Paris to make the mold. That part actually worked really well. Just mix it thin to reduce bubbles and give it a while to dry completely. Then I used .060 thick lexan sheets which are pretty beefy. I feel like my homemade vacuum forming was built pretty well too. My problem was the vacuum I was using wasn't that powerful so it didn't suck the lexan as tight as I would have wanted. Once I hooked two vacuums to it, it worked pretty well.

But it sounds like you might have the right setup to avoid these problems. For sure take pics and post for the rest of us!

[wildironman]

post a pic of it in work

[ROB311952]

Miy bodies tear around the rear mounts too. I cut out the part of the bed where the holes are and glue (silicone) and screw in a piece of thin sheet metal and put the mount holes in that. So far, it's still holding up to some really hard bashing with my Doberman in hot pursuit of it.

[SmatPede4x4]

Shoe goo/drywall tape is the way to go. I used my new proline body once after painting it and it was starting to crack already. Then i shoe gooed it and it hasn't gotten any worse since. I was amazed at how well it worked. Don't be stingy with the shoe goo just put a bunch all around the back holes and then apply the drywall tape.